AL SCHELL/Courier-Post Thomas Soto (right), newly elected member of the Pennsauken school board, measures Bryan De Young, 18, of Pittsgrove Township for a prom tuxedo at After Hours Formal at the Deptford Mall.

A 22-year-old Pennsauken High School graduate said mobilizing the township's young adults helped him win a seat on the board of education on Tuesday, nudging out the board president for his first election to public office.

"I'm pretty happy," Thomas J. Sotocq said on the night of his election.

"I hope this is the beginning of a very, very good thing for Pennsauken."

Soto was one of seven candidates who vied for three open seats on the nine-member board.

Incumbents Michael E. Stargellcq and Mark Schottcq and Soto campaigned together to earn the three seats.

Stargell and Schott earned the top two votes while Soto captured Michael Ciaccia's seat by just 52 votes.

Stargell said Soto worked hard campaigning and deserved to be elected.

"He's got a bright future," said Stargell, a special education teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden, on election night.

Soto said his main goal this first year on the board is to restore confidence in the schools. He wants to talk to everyone - teachers, students and parents.

"I want to find out what's going on in the school, bring new ideas," he said.

Schools superintendent Dr. Walter Quintcq said he didn't know Soto before he was elected but isn't concerned with his young age.

"I've worked with some very young board members and they've been great," said Quint. "It makes the board more reflective of the community," he said.

During the campaign, Soto said he focused on getting the young people in the community out to vote by sending out post cards and making phone calls using his high school year books.

"I must have made 25 to 30 phone calls on the day of the election," said Soto, a psychology major in his last year at Rutgers-Camden.

Soto, who is unmarried, said many friends and family members helped out.

His proud mother, Josefinacq, said he has always been a leader, very motivated and a self-starter.

"Since he's been a kid, he's always stood for the rights of others," said Josefina, who sent postcards to members of the Hispanic community, asking them to vote for her son.

Soto's interest in running for school board started in high school, when he was president of the student government, and then surfaced again this year after attending a meeting, he said.

"There were some issues parents brought up at the meeting. I saw the way they were treated by the board and I didn't like it too much," said Soto, who graduated high school in 1998.

"I just knew I needed to do it now," he said.

Pennsauken resident Timcq Killioncq said he thinks his high school friend's genuineness won many people over at last month's Meet the Candidates Night at the high school. The forum was also shown on the local cable access channel.

"He was speaking from the heart. He wants to make a change," said Killion.

In addition to being a full-time psychology major at Rutgers-Camden, Soto is assistant manager at After Hours Formal Wear at the Deptford Mall.

He said he's looking for a future career in law enforcement.

"Whatever I do I want to make sure I'm helping people, helping them with problems," said Soto, who will graduate next year.

The 5-foot-7, athletic-looking Soto loves playing sports, although a recent football injury has kept him away.

He also likes music, movies and watching professional sports.

"I don't miss any (Philadelphia) Eagles games. I can tell you that," said Soto.